Blinding Lights

Ｓｐｅｃｉａｌ Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ

"Mom, why is dad always looking at that portrait?" I asked as a child. The blurry sight of my mother slowly getting lighting up behind her smile was a sadness she couldn't keep. "Is she my daddy's grand, grand, grand mother?" While pointing it.

Mom stared at it for too long before speaking. "She's beautiful. Someone whom your dad couldn't forget. Someone who can still make your dad beam on happiness." Those words were hard to comprehend of course as a child something like this won't be easy to understand.

And I continued to stare at that huge portrait beside my dad's room.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang makita ang boss na si Acron Rohan Teaño, son of the best selling author of all times. He looked at me impatiently as if one more wasted minutes I'll be done. I'm working as his secretary even though sometimes he frequently want to blow my nerves because of stress he's quite competent. Maliban nalang sa pagiging babaero niya akala mo kasi tissue ang mga babae sakanya pagkatapos ipamunas papalitan ng mas marami.

He looked at his rolex, "late." Tipid niyang ani. "Alicia stop being a turtle I'm famished. Kanina pa kita hinihintay," reklamo niya at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto.

I sat at the driver's seat like what I used he stood there frowning, "bakit?" Taka kong tanong.

He pointed me and the seat beside, "you sit there. I'll drive." Ano na namang nakain ng lalaking ito? Mukhang masama ang pakiramdam at bigla-biglang nagiging mabait masyadong nakakapagtaka. "How are you?" I remained watching on the car's window, "Alicia your performance is a mess this months. As your boss I want to know your problem---"

I shut my eyes off, I bit the insides of my cheek before answering him. "I think we should stop this Rohan." Pinag-isipan ko 'tong mabuti sa nagdaang buwan. "I'll hand my resignation letter tomorrow."

"What the fuck are you saying? Why are you resigning all of a sudden? Ayos lang tayo hindi ba?" Taka niyang ani habang binabagalan ang takbo ng sasakyan. "Don't you dare--"

Clenching my hand. "Kahit minsan ba Rohan naisip mo na baka nagsasawa rin ako? O kaya nahihirapan? O kaya nanliliit tuwing kasama mo siya?" Mapakla akong natawa, "Rohan girlfriend mo ako e pero bakit ako iyong dapat magtago? As far as I know I'm your girlfriend then why the fuck should I hide like I'm the mistress here? Because what? Kasi ganito lang ako? Kasi hindi kita ka level?" My tears kept on cascading as I uttered those words. It fucking hurts, deeply hurts. He didn't reply the car now stopped at the corner beside a old tree. "Aalis na ako. I want to resign and to break up with you. Rohan ever since we got together I sacrificed everything for you... How I hate being alone in the dark but I stayed while watching you on other woman's arms." Tinuyo ko ang mga luha alam ko baka nga ako lang ang naapektuhan ngayon. Rohan never told me something that can ease this pain and doubts. Palibhasa alam niya na mananatili ako e kasi mahal ko. This is the last time I'll talk about this matter, kinuha ko lahat ng lakas ng loob atsaka pinihit ang pinto ng sasakyan pabukas. "Goodbye, I wish you all the best... Without me if you did consider me as your partner but I guess, you didn't." Iniwan no lahat ng gamit sa sasakyan niya hindi na ako babalik kahit kailan. Kailangan kong hanapin ang landas ko ng mag-isa ng wala siya..

Dad smiled at that portrait again, a smile that he never plastered when he's with my mom. Who is she? Why is my dad so attached at the portrait? "I stood beside him," mom cried last night because of a misunderstanding. "Where is mom?" I asked.

Dad smiled and pat my head. "Your mom left,"" I frowned. Is my dad drunk? "She's bound to find her happiness,"

Anger rose inside me. "Why is she finding her happiness if you're her happiness? Luke is with her? Why are you doing this all the time dad? Spending all of your precious time staring at that portrait! Sino ba kasi siya? Don't you know mom is crying everytime you're not prioritizing her? Bakit mo pa siya pinakasalan kung ganoon naman?!" I shouted.